African American Alumni Council

The January event, held on the 50th anniversary of the sit-in, included a candlelight procession recreating the march from the student union to the Cathedral and a ceremony passing the mantle of Black Action Society leadership from one generation to the next.

In the tumult of 1968, a group of students gathered to form what would become the Black Action Society. The mission? To advocate for the concerns of Black students at Pitt and members of the local African American community.

Nearly 200 people gathered to honor the legacy of former Pennsylvania Speaker of the House of Representatives K. Leroy Irvis (LAW '54). The newly renamed K. Leroy Irvis Hall is the first building at Pitt named for an African-American.

Walid Gellad, associate professor of medicine and health policy and director of Pitt’s Center for Pharmaceutical Policy and Prescribing, is using machine-learning algorithms to predict who is at risk of opioid misuse and overdose.

In a recent study, led by chair of psychology Julie Fiez, researchers taught adults “HouseFont” — a hieroglyphic-like language based on photos of homes — then scanned the language-learning areas of participants’ brains. What they found adds to a growing body of knowledge on how adults process written languages.

Props, screenplays, script notes and more — Pitt now has more than 50 years’ worth of items from George A. Romero, the filmmaker who revolutionized the horror genre, beginning with “Night of the Living Dead.” The new collection marks a growth in horror studies resources available to scholars and the public.

The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance honored Pitt with top rankings, and 2017 brought important rankings from additional national organizations.

Britt Baker has won several wrestling championships. But this spring, she expects to claim an even bigger title: doctor of dental medicine. See her interview on "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown" as the show explores eclectic corners of Pittsburgh, airing Oct. 22.

Jesse Irwin (A&S '17) wanted to start a late-night talk show at Pitt. With a student crew and film studies Assistant Professor Robert Clift's support, he made it happen in three months — and snagged an Emmy nod.